Pressure actuated governor



Jan. 12, 1932.

J. F. HOFFMAN PRESSURE ACTUATED GOVERNOR Filed Feb. 23, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AT mRNEYS.

Jan.

Filed Feb. 23. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "'n Hui 1,11:

1 I I llL I M ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNlTED STATES u: mi ug y/1 PATENT OFFICE JOHN F. HOFFMAN, F OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO BAKER ICE MACHINE CO. INC., OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, A CORPORATION OF NEBRASKA PRESSURE ACTUATED GOVERNOR Application filed February 23, 1928.

My invention relates to pressure-actuated mechanism and more particularly to ressure: actuated governors, the principal o jects oi: the invention being to multiply the stroke of the governor, to control a plurality of elements by a single governor, to actuate a plurality of elements simultaneously, to provide liquid means for actuating control elements, and to control the governor by pressure means.

Further objects are to multiply the stroke of the governor differentially for diflerent elements, to change the direction of movement from a governing element without the use of levers and fulcrums, and to enclose the means of transmitting motion.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device associated with a liquid distributing system.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the device and a portion of liquid supply lines having valves controlled by the device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a. body member preferably a casting, having recesses 2 and 3 in opposite side faces, a central through channel 4 connecting the recesses and radial channels 5, 6 and 7 terminating in peripheral piston chambers 8, 9 and 10 of different diameters, and illustrating a plural application of the invention. The recesses, channels and chambers are adapted to contain a body of fluid to be moved by pressure to actuate suitable pistons, for example, bellows type pistons, as presently described.

Internally threaded flanges 11 at the outer ends of said chambers receive plugs 12, and shoulders 13 between the flanges and the walls of the chambers provide seats for disks 14, 15 and 16 constituting the outer members of elastic bellows pistons 17, 18 and 19, the disks being retained permanently on the seats by the plugs screw-threaded into the flanges.

Fixed to the sides of the body by bolts 21 Serial No. 256,454.

and nuts 22 are closure members 23 and 24 comprising concavo-convex plates having similar recessed inner faces 25, and supported between the plates and the body are diaphragm members 26 and 27, the spaces be- 55 tween the diaphragm members and the concave faces of the body constituting pressure chambers 28 and the area between the diaphragms and the concave faces of the plates constituting distributing or expansion chama0 bers 30 wherein a fluid adapted to actuate the liquid in the chambers 28 is distributed over the diaphragms and its influence applied thereto, said influence being preferably exerted by expansion. The plates closing the recesses combine with the body to comprise a housing for valve-control elements. I prefer, for the particular purpose herein illustrated, to introduce and deliver a fluid to the expansion chambers to provide pressure means, and for this purpose each plate has an opening 31 to receive an inlet pipe 32 and the two pipes are preferably connected by a pipe 33 and have a common supply source 34. Fluid may, by said means, be admitted simultaneously to the two chambers 30 which thereby are constituted receiving chambers, and changes in the pressure of the fluid in the chambers 30, for example, expansion thereof, will similarly influence the diaphragms to bulge toward the concave faces of the casing. The chambers 28 communicate with the through opening 4 of the body and liquid, such as oil, is provided in the chambers and casing to flll the channels and the peripheral recesses or piston chambers 8, 9 and 10. The body is further provided with a fourth radial recess 35 similar to the piston chambers and communicating with the channels of the body, and with a screw-threaded flange 36 and shoulder 37 for seating the disk 38 of a bellows piston 39. The piston 39 is provided with a screw-threaded stem 40 movable in a screw-threaded nut 41 closing the end of the recess, whereby the piston may be moved to take up any deficiency in the liquid contained in the body for completely filling the body and also for providing a desired adjustment between the pressure of liquid in the body and the pressure exerted by the fluid against the diaphragms.

The pistons 17, 18 and 19 comprise, further, disk-like end members 4-2, 43 and 44 having diameters somewhat less than the dian1- eters of the recesses in which they are placed and stems 45 movable through apertures 46 in the seating plates and through the closure members so that when the pressure fluid bulges the diaphragms inwardly, the elastic bellows are collapsed and move the piston stems outwardly of the casing.

The device is adapted for association by suitable means with elements for controlling various moving features of a system, for example, the bellows piston 18 in the illustrated application of the invention is adapted to move the stem 47 of a valve 48 supported in a casing 49 from the closure member 12; the valve casing being interposed in a flow line 50 to control fluid passing through the flow line. A spring 51 in the casing 49 bears against the valve to return it to its seat when the pressure on the elastic bellows is relieved.

The piston 19 is associated with a control device 52 which. is indicated as in a fluid supply line.

Associated with the piston 17 is an electrical control device comprising a rod 53 movable by the rod of the bellows piston to disconnect the contacts 54 from the circuit and having a return spring 55 to re-estab lish the connection and cause the switch piston to assist in moving the bellows piston to extended position.

Considering one of the expansion chambers and one piston, pressure on the flexible diaphragm will displace the liquid in the pressure chamber, and cause movement of the piston proportionate to' the several relations between the area of the diaphragm and the dimensions of the piston chamber and piston parts, whereby a desired modification of the travel and power of the flexible member may be obtained, and different strokes may be provided for a plurality of pistons in an arrangement such as that illustrated. Since the movements of the piston are accomplished by displacement of liquid, there are relatively few parts. The pistons may be limited to particular extent of travel, whereby accuracy of control is promoted.

I have illustrated the device as applied to a system such as a refrigeration system having a water supply line and a. refrigerant supply line and also having electrical or other power source, and illustrate the de vice as operating control means to synchonously control the flow of water, the flow of refrigerant and the actuation of the system.

It is apparent that the length and diameter of a piston chamber and of the piston, and their relations to the pressure chamber, and the area of the diaphragm, and the parts controlled, may be adapted to a particular service desired of a particular device, and a composite device such as illustrated may be provided whereby the single actuating impulse, namely, the pressure of the fluid in the exterior chambers upon the dia phragms, may cause the several pistons to move over differentiated paths to seat or unseat valves, to move levers and to make and break electrical circuits. It is apparent that the provision for enclosing the several elements of the synchronized device operated by the single governing control obviates the use of levers and exposed elements subject to deterioration and accident.

Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the character described including a spring-pressed stem, and means for delivering a fluid pressure medium including a conduit, a pressure-actuated governor comprising a fluid-containing casing, flexible diaphragms on different sides of the casing in contact with the fluid therein, means including a plurality of pipes connected with said conduit for delivering said fluid pressure medium simultaneously to the several diaphragms to press equally on the fluid in the casing, and means receivin pressure of fluid in the casing and inclu mg a piston movable in the casing for transmitting the pressure of the casing fluid to the stem.

2. A pressure-actuated governor including a unitary body having a through bore and. channels communicating with said bore, and provided with recesses at the outer ends of said bore, diaphragms covering said recesses to form pressure chambers, means including pistons in said channels responsive to pressure of liquid in said body for transmitting motion to stems or the like adapted'for control by the governor, a body of liquid c0ntained by said body forming a transmitting medium, and means for applying pressure to said diaphragms to press said liquid for transmitting motion to said stems.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN F. HOFFMAN. 

